Gray Hopes For Happy Homecoming

Andre Gray is hoping to leave his friends disappointed this weekend as the Clarets travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The in-form Clarets striker heads back to his hometown to play the side he left aged 13, on the back of three consecutive braces at Turf Moor.

That recent goalscoring feat equalled a 103-year club record achieved by Bert Freeman in 1912 - and Gray says that while he is pleased with his recent form, it is more important the team is winning.

He said: “It’s going great and the main thing is that we’re winning and we moved joint top on Tuesday.

“I think the ethos built here is the recipe for success. That’s why we did so well at Brentford and we’re a tight-knit group here, which is showing on the pitch.

“No game in the Championship is going to be easy, especially away from home and we can’t take our foot off the gas.

“We’re in the driving seat at the moment and we want to stay at the top of the table.”

The 10-goal striker added: “It’s a free coach ride home for me! My friends will probably want me to score a hat-trick and us to lose 4-3 but I don’t care what they want – we need the three points to stay at the top of the league.”

Gray will come against a familiar face in Wolves’ 25-year-old centre-back Danny Batth at the weekend, who he spent time with in their younger days.

And the Clarets frontman is hoping that his blossoming partnership with neighbour Sam Vokes can continue to pose problems for Championship defences.

Speaking of the partnership, he added: “It’s easier than it looks. Some partnerships click and some don’t and I think me and Vokesy is one that has.

“We drive in together and we’re next door neighbours, so I’ve had to lend his iron a few times as well!

“Vokesy drops deeper and I think that’s what confusing defenders at the minute.

“They don’t know whether to go up against him and leave the space for me or drop off and let him get in the hole, so hopefully that will continue.”

If you can’t get to Molineux on Saturday, Clarets Player HD has the next best thing. We have full commentary from 2.45pm, right through to 5pm, with Phil Bird bringing you every kick.